In Praise of the Greenhouse

Perhaps the leading argument (among Christians)against Christian schooling is that of the non-desirability of the “greenhouse effect”.  It suggests that it is wrong to protect children from the “real” world (of the public school system).  

To the horticulturalist the greenhouse is a place to nurture and protect tender plants from the life threatening elements of the “real” environment. I’m no gardener, but that seems like a sensible idea to me!  In fact, the concept of the protection and nurture of children is clearly a Christian value. So, the logic of  daily placing impressionable, vulnerable children and youth into the dangerous milieu of an anti-Christian system is lost on me.

Would I want to protect my child from:

·         A language environment constantly peppered with the worst of obscenities? Yes!

·         An environment where he/she could be bullied and physically threatened by peers with no real recourse of remedy? Yes!

·         An undisciplined atmosphere where authority figures (teachers) are commonly sworn at? Yes!

·         An educational philosophy which does not acknowledge God?  Yes! (See my previous posting.)

·         Educational theory which consistently challenges traditional Christian values?  Yes!

·         A system which aggressively promotes a re-definition of family?  Yes!

·         I could go on . . . 

So at what point is a child ready for immersion into such an environment? I suggest---never
Not as long as he/she is under your care! 

Impractical??  Impossible?? It may be time for church leaders—and family leaders—to readjust 
their thinking. 

Countless numbers of plants have already been destroyed!